Scottish Executive

Adult Literacy

Mr Duncan McNeil (Greenock and Inverclyde) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what progress is being made in reducing the number of adults lacking basic literacy and numeracy skills.

Iain Gray: £22.5 million is available over three years from April 2001 to raise levels of adult literacy and numeracy. £18.5 million of this is being distributed through local authorities to Community Learning Strategy Partnerships (CLSPs) where all providers can access funding. Action plans submitted by the CLSPs indicate that over 80,000 adults will be helped over the three years.

  A national training team has been established to respond to the immediate training needs of practitioners and develop a fully accredited national training programme for tutors.

  A new national development unit on literacy and numeracy is being established within Communities Scotland. On 16 April four pathfinder projects were announced, three of which provide the first national support for raising awareness of the issue within the workplace. The development of a national curriculum for adult learners is also being progressed.

  It will take time for these initiatives to produce results, but a sound platform for reducing the number of adults with low literacy and numeracy skills is being established.

Animal Welfare

Stewart Stevenson (Banff and Buchan) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what involvement its Environment and Rural Affairs Department will have in the introduction of the Welfare of Laying Hens Directive 99/74/EC and whether it intends to make proposals for the introduction of the Laying Hens Welfare Code which go beyond those stated in the 1999 Directive.

Ross Finnie: Animal welfare is a devolved issue. Draft Scottish regulations to implement Directive 99/74/EC on the Welfare of Laying Hens will be laid before the Parliament in the next few days. Whilst we are obliged to implement EU Directives in full, the regulations do not go beyond the requirements of the directive.

  A revised Code of Recommendations for the Welfare of Laying Hens will also be put before the Parliament. This advisory code is intended to encourage all these who care for laying hens to adopt the highest standards of husbandry.

Apprenticeships

David Mundell (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many and what percentage of the people undertaking modern apprenticeships are (a) male and (b) female.

Iain Gray: There are currently 23,281 modern apprentices in training of which 16,105 (69%) are male and 7,127 (31%) female.

Apprenticeships

David Mundell (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many (a) males and (b) females have gained permanent employment as a result of the modern apprenticeship scheme.

Iain Gray: All Modern Apprentices (MAs) must have employed status to participate in the MA programme.

Employment

Miss Annabel Goldie (West of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what action it has taken to increase the levels of teleworking and what proportion of the Scottish workforce teleworks compared with the rest of the UK.

Iain Gray: A competitive telecoms infrastructure is vital to Scotland's economic development, including the facilitation of teleworking. To this end, the Executive's broadband strategy, published last year, aims to promote affordable, pervasive broadband access across Scotland.

  The DTI's Labour Force Survey 2000 showed that there were approximately 119,000 teleworkers in Scotland at the time of the survey. This equated to approximately 5% of Scottish employees teleworking, compared with an average of approximately 6.4% of employees in the UK as a whole.

Epilepsy

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many sudden unexpected deaths in epilepsy there were in each of the last five years.

Dr Richard Simpson: The following table presents the information available on deaths involving epilepsy. It is not possible to say how many of these deaths were sudden and unexpected.

  Epilepsy Deaths1 in Scotland

  


 


1997 
  

1998 
  

1999 
  

2000 
  

20012




Epilepsy Recorded as Underlying Cause of Death 
  

99 
  

99 
  

115 
  

99 
  

113 
  



Epilepsy Mentioned on Death Certificate, but not Recorded 
  as Underlying Cause of Death 
  

190 
  

180 
  

183 
  

198 
  

179 
  



  Notes:

  1. For years up to and including 1999, ICD9 codes 345.0-345.9; for years from 2000, ICD10 codes G40.0-G41.9

  2. Data for 2001 are provisional.

Equal Opportunities

Mr Duncan McNeil (Greenock and Inverclyde) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what targets it has set for reducing discrimination against older people.

Malcolm Chisholm: There is no place for age discrimination in Scottish society. We are committed to putting equality at the heart of the work of the Executive. At the centre of our Equality Strategy is the integration of equality into policymaking, legislation, programmes, spending plans and service delivery. This mainstreaming approach demands that policymakers and those delivering services take account of, and reflect the diverse needs of, the population. We have not set specific targets for reducing discrimination against older people.

Fisheries

Mr Jamie Stone (Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what performance targets it has set for the Scottish Fisheries Protection Agency for 2002-03.

Ross Finnie: For the financial year 2002-03 I have set the following targets:

  


Aerial Surveillance 
  



- per cent of hours flown on task 
  

86% 
  



- cost per hour flown on task 
  

£1,320 
  



Marine surveillance 
  



- cost per effective patrol day 
  

£4,233 
  



- utilisation of available patrol days 
  

97% 
  



Sea Fisheries Inspectorate 
  



- landing declarations by over 10 metre vessels checked 
  against actual catches 
  

47% 
  



- cost per catch inspection 
  

£102 
  



Cases for Prosecution 
  



- cases for prosecution to be reported within six weeks 
  of offences being detected 
  

95% 
  



- cases for prosecution to be reported within eight weeks 
  of offences being detected 
  

98% 
  



Number of cases where court proceedings were taken or a 
  fiscal fine was imposed as a percentage of the cases considered 
  by the PFS 
  

88% 
  



Efficiency 
  



- Cash-Releasing Efficiency Gain 
  

1.50% 
  



  These targets take account of expected further improvements in the agency’s effectiveness across the range of its activities.

  The Chief Executive will be accountable to me for the agency’s achievement against these targets, which will be reported in the agency's annual report.

Freight

David Mundell (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what improvements are planned to the Freight Facilities Grants scheme in the light of statements in the recent report by MDS Transmodal, which it commissioned, regarding taxpayers’ value for money.

Lewis Macdonald: We will carefully consider the recommendations within the report to ensure that an integrated and sustainable freight transport system continues to be developed for Scotland.

Housing

Tommy Sheridan (Glasgow) (SSP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the £300 million grant aid given to the Glasgow Housing Association complies with European Union exemption regulations and, if so, which regulation it complies with, and whether the grant has been notified to, and approved by, the European Commission and, if so, when such approval was obtained.

Ms Margaret Curran: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-24436 on 16 May 2002.

Justice

Dorothy-Grace Elder (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many (a) cases have been referred to procurator fiscal offices and (b) prosecutions have taken place under sections 51 and 52 of the Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982 for the display of obscene material and indecent photographs etc. of children in each year since 1982.

Colin Boyd QC: Figures dating from the introduction of the Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982 are not available. The following table lists the number of cases received for each of sections 51, 52 and 52A of the 1982 Act in the years 1999-2001 and the number of cases which were marked to proceed in court. Due to a change in computer system, I am unable to confirm the number of cases which proceeded to trial or in which a plea was accepted.

  Of the cases which were not marked to proceed in court a number were referred to the Children’s Reporter, a number were associated with other cases against the same accused, and others were marked "no proceedings".

  

 

1999 Reports Received 
  

1999
Court Proceedings 
  

2000
Reports Received 
  

2000
Court Proceedings 
  

2001
Reports Received 
  

2001
Court Proceedings 
  



Section 51 
  

6 
  

3 
  

5 
  

4 
  

7 
  

6 
  



Section 52 
  

6 
  

6 
  

19 
  

17 
  

43 
  

41 
  



Section 52A 
  

7 
  

7 
  

8 
  

7 
  

31 
  

22 
  



Grand Total 
  

19 
  

16 
  

32 
  

28 
  

81 
  

69 
  



  Notes:

  1. Section 51 relates to the display and distribution of obscene material.

  2. Section 52 relates to the taking, making, distribution and publication of indecent photographs of children.

  3. Section 52A relates to the possession of indecent photographs of children.

Justice

Mr Gil Paterson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what guidance it has given to councils regarding planning applications and all types of licence applications from businesses in the sex industry and how any such guidance ties in with its strategy on preventing violence against women.

Mr Jim Wallace: The control of the use of local premises is a matter for local authorities through the planning and licensing systems and we have not issued guidance of the type mentioned. However, we deplore violence against women in any form and our strategies on equality and on domestic abuse are designed to reinforce this. The police are particularly alert to the vulnerability of workers in the sex industry and will seek to enforce the criminal law.

Land Reform (Scotland) Bill

Bill Aitken (Glasgow) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to remove the right to buy fishing rights from part three of the Land Reform (Scotland) Bill.

Ross Finnie: No. I have no plans to introduce an amendment to the bill, which would have this effect.

Licensing of Taxis

Margaret Jamieson (Kilmarnock and Loudoun) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what guidance it has issued to local authorities on the licensing of taxis and private hire cars with regard to the Disability Discrimination Act 1995.

Peter Peacock: Guidance will be issued to local authorities as and when the various taxi provisions relating to the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 come into effect. However, my officials are in touch with local authorities to keep them informed of developments.

Licensing of Taxis

Margaret Jamieson (Kilmarnock and Loudoun) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has consulted the Scottish Taxi Federation about provisions relating to taxis in the Disability Discrimination Act 1995.

Peter Peacock: The Scottish Taxi Federation is automatically consulted on all matters relating to taxi licensing in Scotland.

Licensing of Taxis

Margaret Jamieson (Kilmarnock and Loudoun) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what consideration has been given to standardising the fees for taxi and private hire car licenses under section 12 of the Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982.

Peter Peacock: An independent task group is currently reviewing all the licensing provisions of the 1982 act, including those relating to taxis and private hire cars. I understand that the task group will be consulting shortly on their emerging findings with a view to reporting back to ministers with their recommendations later in the year.

Local Government Elections

Mr Keith Harding (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-25189 by Peter Peacock on 29 April 2002, whether the issuing of ballot papers to postal voters in normal local authority elections is entered on a marked register.

Peter Peacock: In addition to the marked copy of the register showing the issue of ballot papers to voters at polling stations, marked copies are kept of the list of proxies, postal voters and postal proxies to whom ballot papers are issued.

Myalgic Encephalomyelitis

John Farquhar Munro (Ross, Skye and Inverness West) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how many children have been diagnosed with myalgic encephalomyelitis and chronic fatigue syndrome in each of the past five years.

Malcolm Chisholm: Statistically reliable estimates cannot be obtained from the sample of GP consultations collected nationally, because of the low number of cases recorded.

Planning

David Mundell (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive when it will respond to the recent letter from Mr Watrett of Dumfries to the First Minister in connection with the planning system.

Ms Margaret Curran: A reply issued from the Chief Inquiry Reporter on 10 May 2002.

Prison Service

Tommy Sheridan (Glasgow) (SSP): To ask the Scottish Executive why the  Scottish Prison Service Estates Review did not refer to the findings in respect of the operation of HM Prison Kilmarnock in the Report for 2000-2001 by HM Chief Inspector of Prisons.

Mr Jim Wallace: I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:

  The Estates Review document did not refer to the 2000-01 report by HM Chief Inspector of Prisons (HMCIP) because the purpose of the review was to identify the likely pressures on the Scottish Prison Service estate over the long term and to generate a series of options for meeting them, rather than to look back at specific aspects of the performance of existing prisons such as Kilmarnock.

  The review’s conclusion that private build, private operate prisons have proved themselves capable of providing good, effective custodial services was based on experience of such prisons in a number of jurisdictions. In the case of Kilmarnock, account was taken of all the detailed information available in forming the view that it operates effectively. That information came from a range of sources, primarily the monitoring of the prison on a continuous basis by Scottish Prison Service staff and the results of prisoner surveys but also including HMCIP reports.

Prison Service

Stewart Stevenson (Banff and Buchan) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-24755 by Mr Jim Wallace on 29 April 2002, how many prison officers attended the risk workshop referred to in section 2.7 of the Financial Review of Scottish Prisons Service Estates Review prepared by PricewaterhouseCoopers, broken down by rank.

Mr Jim Wallace: None.

Prison Service

Stewart Stevenson (Banff and Buchan) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-24755 by Mr Jim Wallace on 29 April 2002, how many members of staff from the Scottish Prison Service (SPS) who attended the risk workshop referred to in section 2.7 of the Financial Review of Scottish Prisons Service Estates Review  prepared by PricewaterhouseCoopers were attached to SPS headquarters.

Mr Jim Wallace: Six.

Prison Service

Stewart Stevenson (Banff and Buchan) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-24755 by Mr Jim Wallace on 29 April 2002, whether anyone who attended the risk workshop referred to in section 2.7 of the Financial Review of Scottish Prisons Service Estates Review prepared by PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), was attached to the Scottish Prison Service (SPS) headquarters but was not employed either by the SPS or by PwC and, if so, what organisation they came from.

Mr Jim Wallace: All those who attended were employed by SPS or PwC.

Prison Service

Stewart Stevenson (Banff and Buchan) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-24755 by Mr Jim Wallace on 29 April 2002, how many members of staff in total from the Scottish Prison Service attended the risk workshop referred to in section 2.7 of the Financial Review of Scottish Prisons Service Estates Review prepared by PricewaterhouseCoopers.

Mr Jim Wallace: Six.

Prison Service

Paul Martin (Glasgow Springburn) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what business targets it has set for the Scottish Prison Service for 2002-03.

Mr Jim Wallace: I have taken the opportunity to review the targets that I set for the Scottish Prison Service (SPS) for 2001-02. Many of the targets remain relevant to the business of the service. I have, however, decided to make minor adjustments to some of the targets to better reflect the range of work undertaken by the service on behalf of the public and to ensure that the targets continue to provide detail on the service's performance while driving continual improvement in critical areas of delivery. I have also extended the targets, where applicable, to cover a three-year period to 2005. This will provide a real measure of improved performance over that period.

  In previous years, the service has continued to deliver improved performance in the face of progressively more demanding targets across a range of key indicators. I have therefore continued to tighten a number of targets in order to ensure that the public can remain confident that the SPS remains focused on the maintenance of secure custody and good order while providing proper standards of care and real opportunities for prisoners to address their offending behaviour making a real contribution to a safer Scotland.

  The service has an excellent custodial record which I expect it to continue to deliver on, with the introduction of a new Prisoner Supervision System in April 2002. This has required a change to a more generic security measure, however the new targets set continue to demand improved performance. In terms of good order the service has made excellent progress over the last few years in significantly reducing the number of serious assaults on staff and prisoners. The targets for both will continue to be demanding. However, I have noted the increase in prisoner assaults this year against a particularly difficult target set last year and have therefore adjusted the target with a clear view to the service decreasing the number of assaults progressively over the next three years.

  In line with the SPS commitment to Correctional Excellence, I have set an increasing target for the delivery of both prisoner education and offending behaviour interventions over the next three years. In order to reflect the work carried out in addressing the offending behaviour of shorter term prisoners I have included the completion of SPS Approved Activities within the targets for programmes completed. I have, however, required that increasing proportions of programmes delivered are accredited and that the service continues to deliver a minimum of 700 programmes.

  Misuse of drugs remains a major issue within the community and within prisons and therefore remains a priority for the SPS. Last year I set a target for the number of prisoners clear of in-prison drug use and I have retained that target at 85%. This is a demanding target that needs to balance increased security measures with providing real opportunities for prisoners to change their behaviour and to live in drug-free environments. The target set represents a challenging reduction in detected drug use within prison. We shall initiate a review of MDT and how it is carried out to judge its effectiveness and suitability in light of experience in new technology.

  I have also set efficiency targets for the Scottish Prison Service, measured in terms of the Cost per Prisoner Place. The targets set include a supplementary investment target to make savings of up to £12.5 million in current expenditure to invest in capital in order to fund the building of new houseblocks and to make much needed improvements around the SPS estate.

  The new targets will be challenging for the SPS and the setting of targets for three years will help to drive real improvement in service delivery. Reducing reoffending must be a key aim for any prison service. The targets I have set will contribute to that. I will also be requiring the SPS to publish alongside its targets, the "return to custody" rates for prisoners. Understanding the impact of prison and more specifically the effectiveness of interventions in reducing offending behaviour is fundamental to the delivery of an efficient service that makes a real contribution to public safety.

  Performance Against Key Ministerial Targets: 2002-05

  

 Key Performance 
Indicators 
 Key Performance Targets 
  



1998-99 


1999-2000 


2000-01 


2001-028 


2002-03 


2003-04 


2004-05 



 Escapes1 


 Extreme Risk 
 TargetOutturn 
  

00 


00 


00 


00 


0 


0 


0 



 Others 
 TargetOutturn 
  

0.27% = 162 


0.22% = 135 


0.17% = 101 


0.13% = 83 


0.11%≤ 7 


0.10% ≤ 6 


0.09% ≤ 6 



 Serious Assaults1



 Staff 
 TargetOutturn 

0.3% = 1417 


0.3% = 1513 


0.28% = 1414 


0.27% = 1312 


0.26% ≤ 13 


0.25% ≤ 12 


0.24% ≤ 12 



 Prisoners 
 TargetOutturn 

1.8%= 108129 


2.2%= 12991 


1.5% = 9169 


0.9% =5685 


1.3% ≤ 83 


1.2% ≤ 78 


1.1% ≤ 74 



 Number of programmes 
and approved activities completed, x% of programmes completed 
to be accredited2 
 TargetOutturn 

-- 


850890 


850773 


700 (50%)871 (64%)873 


1,100(50%) 


1,300(60%) 


1,500(70%) 



 Education: number of 
prisoner learning hours 
 TargetOutturn 

- 


- 


-225,000 


250,000307,222 


300,000 


325,00 


350,000 



 % of available prisoner 
places with access to night sanitation4 ,5 
 TargetOutturn 

71%71% 


76%75% 


76%76% 


78%78% 


79% 


82% 


84% 



 % of those tested under 
random MDT procedures to be clear of in-prison drug use 
 TargetOutturn 

-82% 


-85% 


-85% 


85%82% 


85% 


85% 


85% 



 Average annual cost 
per prisoner place (£)6 
 TargetOutturn 

27,90426,912 


28,76128,375 


29,50028,114 


£32,600 £30,100 


£31,900 


£33,800 


7 




  Notes:

  1. No account has been taken of the impact of the new system for escorting prisoners.

  2. This measure from 2002-03 includes those offending behaviour interventions that are classed as approved activities. This enables work conducted with the short-term prisoner population to be credited within the measure.

  3. Projected outturn for approved activities for 2001-02. Information not available for previous years.

  4. The SPS no longer counts chemical toilets towards the target for access to night sanitation. Targets for 2002-03 onwards reflect this adjustment.

  5. The percentage figure for available prisoner places with access to night sanitation will vary in-year according to population demands and use of accommodation.

  6. Up to £12.5 million will be directed into capital investment for 2001-02 (£12.5 million target achieved), 2002-03 and 2003-04.

  7. Funding to be determined by the 2002 Spending Review.

  8. Figures for 2001-02 are projected and subject to final confirmation and audit.

Roads

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what maintenance work has been undertaken on the Clyde Tunnel and access ramps since 1979 and what the cost of each maintenance project was.

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many days the Clyde Tunnel was not operational with two lanes in both directions in the most recent year for which figures are available.

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Clyde Tunnel has reached the end of its useful life (a) as envisaged at the time of its commissioning and (b) in terms of the projected costs of maintaining it at a high standard of repair and reliability.

Lewis Macdonald: The Clyde Tunnel is a local road. As such it is the responsibility of Glasgow City Council as the local roads authority for the area. This is, therefore, a matter for the council to address.

Roads

David Mundell (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has evaluated the effectiveness of the SCOOT traffic management system deployed in Dumfries town centre; if so, what the results of this evaluation were and, if not, what plans it has to carry out or commission any such evaluation.

Lewis Macdonald: No. The SCOOT traffic management system deployed in Dumfries town centre is not on the trunk road network and it is the responsibility of the local road authority to monitor and assess its effectiveness.

Schools

Tommy Sheridan (Glasgow) (SSP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to promote throughout Scotland the practice of Trinity Academy in Leith of capping class sizes at 20 and what the reasons are for the position on this matter.

Nicol Stephen: I understand that City of Edinburgh Council has no such policy in Trinity Academy primary school. Similarly, there is no such policy in Trinity Academy secondary school, although practical classes will be limited to a maximum of 20 by national agreements on teachers’ terms and conditions.

Scottish Executive Publications

David Mundell (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what the cost is of the leaflet promoting the completion of the M74.

Lewis Macdonald: The cost of designing and printing the leaflet was £13,220.

Scottish Water

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether risks of delays in the construction of the Loch Katrine Water Project are borne by (a) Scottish Water or (b) its contractors.

Ross Finnie: This is a matter for Scottish Water. Its Chief Executive’s response is as follows:

  Delays in construction resulting from planning are specifically excluded from the contract for the Katrine Water Project, with all consequential costs falling to Scottish Water.

  However, all other risks in delays in construction are the subject of a contractual agreement between Scottish Water and the contractor, Stirling Water, about which I am not permitted to comment.

Sectarianism

Trish Godman (West Renfrewshire) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps are being or will be taken to diminish sectarianism in all its forms and to promote Scotland as a nation free from bigotry.

Trish Godman (West Renfrewshire) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with the Northern Ireland Executive concerning the lessons to be learned from their experience of tackling sectarianism, bigotry and prejudice.

Trish Godman (West Renfrewshire) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what assessment it has made of the level and impact of sectarianism in society and what specific plans it has to tackle this.

Trish Godman (West Renfrewshire) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what recent discussions it has had with the Northern Ireland Executive concerning the implementation of programmes to eradicate sectarianism in local communities within the context of the promotion of social justice.

Trish Godman (West Renfrewshire) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what recent discussions it has had with the Northern Ireland Executive concerning sectarianism in the workplace and in the education system.

Trish Godman (West Renfrewshire) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to introduce a funded programme to support anti-sectarian activities in local communities based upon social justice and equality strategies.

Dr Richard Simpson: Scottish ministers are opposed to sectarianism in all its forms, in education and in the workplace. I and my colleagues meet Northern Ireland ministers but have not at present any plans to implement specific anti-sectarian programmes based on their experience. We are, however, working with a cross-party group to consider the need for new legislation to increase protection from attacks motivated by religious hatred. It is important that any proposals for change in this area are practical and effective. The group intends to produce a report in the summer.

Social Inclusion Partnerships

Linda Fabiani (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-24178 by Ms Margaret Curran on 2 April 2002, whether the police or the procurator fiscal service have ever been informed about the workings of a social inclusion partnership (SIP) or asked to investigate any of the workings of a SIP or any predecessor body and, if so, whether it will give details.

Ms Margaret Curran: I can confirm that there are or have been five occasions on which the police or the procurator fiscal service have been informed about the workings of a social inclusion partnership (SIP), or asked to investigate the workings of a SIP.

  For information, in the context of this question the phrase "workings of a SIP" is taken as referring not just to internal SIP processes but also to projects funded or partially funded by a SIP.

  I am unable to comment on any cases that may be under investigation at present on the basis that such disclosure might compromise an on-going criminal investigation. I am also unable to comment on any cases in relation to which there is any related current legal action. Information in the answer refers to the SIP programme, which commenced in 1999.

  Given the above, I can confirm the details in relation to one case of the five:

  There were investigations by Glasgow City Council Internal Audit department and Strathclyde Police carried out into the operation of the CHEAF project in Milton. Both of these investigations concluded that there was no evidence to substantiate allegations of financial irregularity which had been levelled at this project.

Teacher Training

Michael Russell (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many applicants there were for each teacher training place for the academic session 2001-02, broken down by university and course.

Nicol Stephen: The following tables show information on the number applications for teacher education intake places allocated by the Scottish Higher Education Funding Council to higher education institutions (HEIs) by course in 2001-2002:

  

 Institution 
 BEd Primary 
 PGCE Primary 
 PGCE Secondary 


 
 Intake Allocated 
 Applications 
 Intake Allocated 
 Applications 
 Intake Allocated 
 Applications 


 Edinburgh University 

139 


1,262 


143 


937 


189 


776 



 Glasgow University 

141 


1,215 


150 


744 


175 


851 



 Northern College* 

170 


802 


164 


1023 


183 


426 



 Paisley University 

82 


711 


67 


521 


61 


246 



 Strathclyde University 

169 


1,409 


183 


1,014 


436 


1,350 



 Total 

701 


5,399 


707 


4,239 


1,044 


3,649 




  

 Institution 
 BEd Physical Education 
  
 BEd Technological Education 
  
 BEd Music 


 
 Intake Allocated 
 Applications 
 Intake Allocated 
 Applications 
 Intake Allocated 
 Applications 


 Edinburgh University 

100 


597 


9 


69 


- 


- 



 Glasgow University 

- 


- 


23 


54 


20 


129 



 Northern College* 

- 


- 


- 





27 


83 



 Paisley University 

- 


- 


- 


- 


- 


- 



 Strathclyde University 

- 


- 


- 


- 


- 


- 



 Total 

100 


597 


32 


123 


47 


212 




  Note:

  *From November 2001 merged with Aberdeen and Dundee Universities.

  Application numbers may include duplicates as applicants may have applied to more than one HEI.

Teachers

Mr John Home Robertson (East Lothian) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what financial support has been made available to local authorities for the continuing professional development of teachers as part of the implementation of A Teaching Agreement for the 21st Century .

Nicol Stephen: The recognition that teachers, like other professionals, need to have access to high quality, relevant continuing professional development (CPD) that allows them to continue to develop and refresh their skills throughout their careers is a cornerstone of the national agreement reached last year between teachers, local authorities and the Scottish Executive.

  Many local authorities are currently developing and providing valuable CPD for teachers. To support this process, the Ministerial Strategy Committee for Continuing Professional Development is developing a set of guiding principles for a number of the key areas in the CPD Framework.

  As part of the continuing implementation of A Teaching Profession for the 21st Century, Scottish ministers are making available an initial tranche of £8 million to local authorities for the development, delivery and support of CPD for teachers.

  If we want the best education for our children then we need to ensure that our teachers are highly skilled and motivated and have the best opportunities to realise their full potential.

  Distribution of £8 Million for Continuing Professional Development 2002-03

  


 


£000 
  



Aberdeen City 
  

273 
  



Aberdeenshire 
  

388 
  



Angus 
  

177 
  



Argyll and Bute 
  

140 
  



Clackmannanshire 
  

77 
  



Dumfries and Galloway 
  

243 
  



Dundee City 
  

218 
  



East Ayrshire 
  

196 
  



East Dunbartonshire 
  

197 
  



East Lothian 
  

139 
  



East Renfrewshire 
  

165 
  



Edinburgh, City of 
  

545 
  



Eilean Siar 
  

55 
  



Falkirk 
  

216 
  



Fife 
  

553 
  



Glasgow City 
  

898 
  



Highland 
  

366 
  



Inverclyde 
  

138 
  



Midlothian 
  

134 
  



Moray 
  

142 
  



North Ayrshire 
  

225 
  



North Lanarkshire 
  

541 
  



Orkney Islands 
  

39 
  



Perth and Kinross 
  

197 
  



Renfrewshire. 
  

287 
  



Scottish Borders 
  

168 
  



Shetland Islands 
  

48 
  



South Ayrshire 
  

181 
  



South Lanarkshire 
  

493 
  



Stirling 
  

137 
  



West Dunbartonshire 
  

164 
  



West Lothian 
  

262 
  



Scotland 
  

8,000

Tourism

Mr David Davidson (North-East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how much European funding has been received for tourism purposes and to whom such funding was distributed in each of the last three years.

Peter Peacock: Under the current round of Structural Fund Programmes, allocations of funding are not specifically earmarked for tourism purposes, though eligible tourism-related projects are considered for funding where they meet an appropriate programme measure and the other established selection criteria of the programme.

  The total amount of European funding actually awarded to tourism projects for the calendar years 1999, 2000 and 2001 was as follows:

  1999 - £14,156,967

  2000 - £23,469,098

  2001 - £40,236,433

  The organisations to whom awards were made were as follows;

  


1999 
  

Programme 
  

Name of Sponsor 
  

Amount Awarded 
  



Highlands and Islands Objective 1 
  

Kinlochleven Land Development Trust 
  

£116,423 
  



Moray, Badenoch and Strathspey Enterprise 
  

£83,125 
  



Speyside Handicapped Holiday Trust 
  

£177,115 
  



Highlands and Islands Enterprise 
  

£960,000 
  



The Highland Council 
  

£20,004 
  



The Highland Council 
  

£144,287 
  



Argyll and Bute Council 
  

£31,000 
  



Western Isles Tourist Board 
  

£40,000 
  



Highlands of Scotland Tourist Board 
  

£69,625 
  



Highlands of Scotland Tourist Board 
  

£50,000 
  



Moray, Badenoch and Strathspey Enterprise 
  

£31,250 
  



The Highland Council 
  

£60,000 
  



The Highland Council 
  

£90,315 
  



National Trust for Scotland 
  

£100,007 
  



Applecross Estate Trust 
  

£46,905 
  



Seaboard Community Development 
  

£89,791 
  



Abriachan Forest Trust 
  

£33,856 
  



North Argyll Development Association 
  

£51,588 
  



The Highland Council 
  

£210,525 
  



The Highland Council 
  

£10,000 
  



Southern Isles Amenity Trust 
  

£40,351 
  



Knoydart Foundation 
  

£42,600 
  



Argyll and Bute Council 
  

£84,411 
  



National Trust for Scotland 
  

£267,092 
  



The Highland Council 
  

£13,851 
  



The Cairngorms Partnership 
  

£100,000 
  



SUSTRANS Scotland 
  

£112,668 
  



Highlands and Islands Enterprise 
  

£82,080 
  



Inverness College 
  

£68,987 
  



Inverness College 
  

£63,714 
  



Inverness College 
  

£47,355 
  



Thurso College 
  

£37,408 
  



Shetland Islands Council 
  

£26,956 
  



Lews Castle College 
  

£24,443 
  



Argyll College 
  

£16,417 
  



West of Scotland Objective 2
East of Scotland Objective 2
Dumfries and Galloway Objective 5(b)
Rural Stirling and Upland Tayside 
North West Grampian
Borders
Objective 3 
  

East Dunbartonshire Council 
  

£71,785 
  



Ayrshire and Arran Tourist Board 
  

£144,966 
  



The National Trust for Scotland 
  

£2,250 
  



Sail Scotland 
  

£28,366 
  



The National Trust for Scotland 
  

£77,500 
  



Loch Lomond Park Authority 
  

£276,480 
  



The National Trust for Scotland 
  

£111,811 
  



The National Trust for Scotland 
  

£172,500 
  



The National Trust for Scotland 
  

£349,110 
  



The National Trust for Scotland 
  

£55,500 
  



Scottish Enterprise Dunbartonshire 
  

£98,400 
  



Glasgow City Council 
  

£275,000 
  



North Lanarkshire Council 
  

£100,000 
  



Scottish Exhibition and Conference Centre 
  

£1,001,156 
  



Almond Valley Heritage 
  

£94,000 
  



Angus Council 
  

£700,000 
  



Rosslyn Chapel Trust 
  

£101,019 
  



Stirling Council 
  

£1,728,368 
  



Dundee City Council 
  

£44,800 
  



Dundee Industrial Heritage 
  

£199,259 
  



Clackmannanshire Enterprise 
  

£210,800 
  



Midlothian Council 
  

£25,000 
  



British Waterways Board 
  

£1,283,625 
  



Accessible Transport Forum (DGC) 
  

£5,089 
  



Dumfries and Galloway College 
  

£81,794 
  



Dumfries Town Centre Management 
  

£4,512 
  



Dumfries and Galloway College 
  

£1,498,413 
  



Dumfries and Galloway Enterprise 
  

£100,584 
  



National Trust for Scotland 
  

£34,239 
  



Sanquhar Tourism Events Project 
  

£51,833 
  



Solway Heritage 
  

£97,000 
  



South Rhins Community Dev Trust 
  

£32,500 
  



Tourist Board Training Organisation 
  

£44,158 
  



Wanlockhead Museum Trust 
  

£18,317 
  



Loch Lomond Park Authority 
  

£213,985 
  



Stirling Council 
  

£105,425 
  



Forth Valley Enterprise 
  

£45,000 
  



Perthshire Tourist Board 
  

£46,864 
  



Tourist Board Training Ltd 
  

£124,344 
  



Angus and Dundee Tourist Board 
  

£13,581 
  



Argyll, the Isles, Loch Lomond, Stirling 
  






and Trossachs Tourist Board 
  

£30,815 
  



Falkirk College 
  

£19,482 
  



Aberdeen and Grampian Tourist Board 
  

£70,485 
  



Moray, Badenoch and Strathspey Enterprise 
  

£197,500 
  



Keith and Dufftown Railway Association 
  

£174,900 
  



Moray Council 
  

£40,000 
  



Tourist Board Training Ltd 
  

£69,151 
  



Aberdeen College 
  

£56,769 
  



Aberdeenshire Council 
  

£17,257 
  



Scottish Borders Tourist Board 
  

£187,470 
  



Scottish Borders Council 
  

£62,700 
  



National Trust for Scotland 
  

£12,500 
  



Tourist Board Training Ltd 
  

£78,777 
  



Drumchapel Opportunities Ltd 
  

£12,718 
  



Drumchapel Opportunities Ltd 
  

£12,960 
  



Banff and Buchan College of Further Education 
  

£20, 500 
  



Total 
  

£14,156,967 
  



  


 


Programme 
  

Name of Sponsor 
  

Amount Awarded 
  



2000 
  

Highlands and Islands
Objective 3 
  

Shetland College 
  

£29,260 
  



Orkney College 
  

£16,512 
  



Lews Castle College 
  

£33,763 
  



Inverness College 
  

£63,714 
  



Inverness College 
  

£22,963 
  



Inverness College 
  

£22,963 
  



Thurso College 
  

£20,207 
  



Thurso College 
  

£23,262 
  



Lochaber College 
  

£13,278 
  



Thurso College 
  

£23,531 
  



Inverness College 
  

£17,951 
  



Highlands and Islands Enterprise 
  

£69,016 
  



Highlands of Scotland Tourist Board 
  

£87,750 
  



Highlands of Scotland Tourist Board 
  

£53,512 
  



Argyll and Isles, Loch Lomond, Stirling and Trossachs Council 
  

£55,350 
  



Western Isles Council 
  

£198,000 
  



Western Isles Council 
  

£61,117 
  



Highlands and Islands Enterprise 
  

£374,606 
  



Arts and Business Scotland 
  

£18,000 
  



Orkney Islands Council 
  

£118,477 
  



Highlands and Islands Enterprise 
  

£363,800 
  



Highlands of Scotland Tourist Board 
  

£156,232 
  



Shetland Leasing and Property 
  

£800,000 
  



Shetland Islands Council 
  

£432,000 
  



Western Isles Council 
  

£322,931 
  



Highlands and Islands Enterprise 
  

£2,396,000 
  



Highlands and Islands Enterprise 
  

£2,238,000 
  



Highlands and Islands Enterprise 
  

£2,695,500 
  



Highland Opportunity Ltd. 
  

£252,888 
  



North Highland College 
  

£340,402 
  



Highlands and Islands Enterprise 
  

£1,019,598 
  



Highlands and Islands Enterprise 
  

£250,000 
  



Highlands and Islands Enterprise 
  

£304,500 
  



Highlands and Islands Enterprise 
  

£321,900 
  



Highland Opportunity Ltd. 
  

£10,750 
  



Highlands and Islands Airports Ltd 
  

£2,618,632 
  



Highlands and Islands Enterprise 
  

£1,152,000 
  



Comhairle Nan Eilean Siar 
  

£50,000 
  



The Highland Council 
  

£493,893 
  



The Moray Council 
  

£22,500 
  



Kinlochleven Community and Sports Centre Co. Ltd. 
  

£138,484 
  



Moray College 
  

£46,690 
  



Moray College 
  

£70,500 
  



Achiltibuie Piping School 
  

£35,663 
  



The Knoydart Foundation 
  

£200,812 
  



Argyll and Bute Council 
  

£154,708 
  



North of Scotland Water Authority 
  

£47,147 
  



Forest Enterprise 
  

£195,800 
  



Forest Enterprise 
  

£60,000 
  



Scottish Native Woods 
  

£42,403 
  



Scottish Natural Heritage 
  

£150,000 
  



Highlands and Islands Enterprise 
  

£835,760 
  



Highlands and Islands Enterprise 
  

£1,878,000 
  



Highlands and Islands Enterprise 
  

£820,100 
  



Highlands and Islands Enterprise 
  

£158,100 
  



Highlands and Islands Enterprise 
  

£284,600 
  



Cumbernauld College 
  

£61,731 
  



Glenrothes College 
  

£161,918 
  



James Watt College of Further and Higher Education 
  

£217,362 
  



Jewel and Esk Valley College 
  

£81,092 
  



Access North Ayr 
  

£14,050 
  



Scottish Borders Tourist Board 
  

£28,191 
  



Tourist Board Training Ltd 
  

£221,229 
  



Total 
  

£23,469,098 
  



  


 


Programme 
  

Name of Sponsor 
  

Amount Awarded 
  



2001 
  

Highlands and Islands 
  

The Highland Council 
  

£17,850 
  



Orkney Tourist Board 
  

£143,400 
  



Highland Opportunity Ltd. 
  

£34,001 
  



Caithness and Sutherland Enterprise 
  

£54,900 
  



Highlands and Islands Enterprise 
  

£462,231 
  



Highlands and Islands Enterprise 
  

£2,092,870 
  



Orkney College 
  

£129,986 
  



Argyll and the Islands Enterprise 
  

£566,200 
  



Argyll and the Islands Enterprise 
  

£178,400 
  



Highland Psychiatric research Foundation 
  

£114,247 
  



Highlands and Islands Enterprise 
  

£3,600,000 
  



Scottish Association for Marine Science 
  

£2,339,820 
  



Scottish Association for Marine Science 
  

£60,000 
  



Caithness and Sutherland Enterprise 
  

£77,881 
  



North Yell Development Council 
  

£53,915 
  



Highlands and Islands Enterprise 
  

£67,798 
  



Highlands and Islands Enterprise 
  

£39,538 
  



Scrabster Harbour Trust 
  

£1,750,000 
  



Lerwick Port Authority 
  

£854,200 
  



Comhairle nan Eilean Siar 
  

£325,500 
  



Orkney Islands Council 
  

£2,500,000 
  



Western Isles Enterprise 
  

£165,081 
  



Argyll and the Islands Enterprise 
  

£730,734 
  



Argyll and Bute Council 
  

£1,783,307 
  



Argyll and Bute Council 
  

£324,700 
  



North of Scotland Water Authority 
  

£856,596 
  



West of Scotland Water Authority 
  

£776,952 
  



Ionad Chaluim Chille Ile Ltd. 
  

£724,391 
  



Harris Voluntary Service 
  

£300,000 
  



Shetland Fisheries Training Centre Trust 
  

£261,731 
  



Shetland Islands Council 
  

£54,000 
  



University of the Highlands and Islands 
  

£526,092 
  



Orkney College 
  

£450,038 
  



Lochaber Communications Networks Ltd. 
  

£114,000 
  



Comunn na Gaidhlig 
  

£232,875 
  



The Highland Council 
  

£333,131 
  



The Woodland Trust 
  

£90,711 
  



Scottish Natural Heritage 
  

£75,211 
  



North of Scotland Water Authority 
  

£113,782 
  



Shetland Amenity Trust 
  

£201,173 
  



The Highland Council 
  

£79,200 
  



The Highland Council 
  

£262,997 
  



The Highland Council 
  

£145,985 
  



Forest Enterprise 
  

£577,500 
  



Moray Council 
  

£17,680 
  



Moray Council 
  

£27,456 
  



Shetland Amenity Trust 
  

£45,361 
  



Loch Lomond and Trossachs Interim Committee 
  

£59,729 
  



Shetland Amenity Trust 
  

£87,667 
  



Cairngorm Partnership 
  

£75,000 
  



Forestry Contracting Authority 
  

£150,000 
  



Forestry Contracting Authority 
  

£67,350 
  



Highlands and Islands Enterprise 
  

£114,413 
  



Highlands of Scotland Tourist Board 
  

£100,390 
  



Inverness College 
  

£16,000 
  



Inverness College 
  

£44,005 
  



Lochaber College 
  

£23,750 
  



Lochaber College 
  

£39,255 
  



The North Highland College 
  

£49,161 
  



The North Highland College 
  

£10,652 
  



The North Highland College 
  

£43,311 
  



East of Scotland
West of Scotland 
  

Take a Pride in Perthshire Association 
  

£81,405 
  



Forest Enterprise 
  

£631,400 
  



Loch Lomond and Trossachs Interim Committee 
  

£487,676 
  



The Woodland Trust 
  

£647,610 
  



Stirling Council 
  

£2,181,168 
  



Dundee City Council 
  

£348,075 
  



Argyll and Isles, Loch Lomond, Stirling and Trossachs Council 
  

£258,788 
  



Falkirk Council 
  

£122,300 
  



Kingdom of Fife Tourist Board 
  

£1,788,932 
  



Forestry Commission 
  

£44,820 
  



Perthshire Tourist Board 
  

£470,952 
  



Central College of Commerce 
  

£113,747 
  



Motherwell College 
  

£50,774 
  



James Watt College 
  

£30,938 
  



Ayr College 
  

£39,490 
  



Cumbernauld College 
  

36,443 
  



Loch Lomond and Trossachs Interim Committee 
  

£292,493 
  



Argyll and Isles, Loch Lomond, Stirling and Trossachs Council 
  Tourist Board 
  

£281,411 
  



South of Scotland 
  

Border Union Agricultural Society 
  

£277,464 
  



Borders 1996 Company Limited 
  

£300,000 
  



Dumfries and Galloway Tourist Board 
  

£927,000 
  



Dumfries and Galloway Tourist Board 
  

£316,000 
  



Forest Enterprise Scotland (South) 
  

£771,000 
  



Forest Enterprise Scotland (South) 
  

£145,000 
  



Royal Society for the Protection of Birds 
  

£203,193 
  



Scottish Borders Tourist Board 
  

£107,122 
  



Scottish Borders Tourist Board 
  

£18,928 
  



Scottish Borders Tourist Board 
  

£66,598 
  



Scottish Borders Tourist Board 
  

£9,083 
  



Scottish Borders Tourist Board 
  

£1,584,364 
  



Scottish Borders Tourist Board 
  

£69,000 
  



Scottish Borders Tourist Board 
  

£160,082 
  



Scottish Enterprise Borders 
  

£43,060 
  



Scottish Enterprise Borders 
  

£10,100 
  



The National Trust for Scotland 
  

£59,556 
  



Wigtown Book Town Company 
  

£90,000 
  



Objective 3 
  

Cumbernauld College 
  

£76,680 
  



Jewel and Esk Valley College 
  

£44,136 
  



James Watt College of Further and Higher Education 
  

£267,324 
  



Glenrothes College 
  

£141,061 
  



Scottish Enterprise Fife 
  

£28,577 
  



Tourist Board Training 
  

£224,595 
  



Tourist Board Training 
  

£108,662 
  



Ethnic Minority Enterprise Centre 
  

£36,483 
  



Access North Ayr 
  

£17,999 
  



Scottish Borders Tourist Board 
  

£32,478 
  



Tourist Board Training 
  

£78,960 
  



Tourist Board Training 
  

£224,595 
  



Tourist Board Training 
  

£133,667 
  



Tourist Board Training 
  

£108,662 
  



Scottish Borders Tourist Board 
  

£32,478 
  



Total 
  

£40,236,433

Tourism

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to promote the use of home produced food and drink to visitors and tourists to Scotland and to increase the economic value of such produce.

Mike Watson: The recently published Tourism Framework for Action 2002-2005 contains actions to promote the VisitScotland Food Quality Assurance scheme and encourage greater uptake of home produced food and drink within the service sector. We have also commissioned research to look at further opportunities to develop the links between the food and tourism industries.

Traffic

David Mundell (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has carried out or commissioned any independent audit of the effectiveness of town centre traffic management arrangements instigated by local authorities and, if not, how it monitors such arrangements.

Lewis Macdonald: No. It is the responsibility of local authorities to monitor and assess the effectiveness of their traffic management arrangements.

Victim Support

Mr Duncan McNeil (Greenock and Inverclyde) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what support the Crown Office and procurator fiscal service give to the victims of, and witnesses to, domestic violence who are fearful of reprisals.

Mrs Elish Angiolini: The Victim Liaison Office is an information service which provides case specific details and information about the criminal justice process in general to victims together with information about, and referrals to, voluntary organisations who can provide support and counselling. In those parts of the country where it is operational its services are available to victims of domestic abuse.

  Where Procurators Fiscal have been informed that victims are fearful of reprisals they can take steps either to oppose the accused's bail application or to have special conditions attached to the granting of bail, for example, conditions not to approach or contact the victim and to reside elsewhere. Procurators Fiscal are aware of the difficulties faced by victims of domestic abuse and seek to deal with each individual case in the most appropriate manner. Where allegations of intimidation are brought to the attention of the procurator fiscal, they will be investigated by the police on the instructions of the procurator fiscal.

Water Authorities

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many staff at director level left West of Scotland Water Authority for roles at Thames Water in the last year.

Ross Finnie: This is a matter for Scottish Water. Their Chief Executive’s response is as follows:

  Records inherited from West of Scotland Water show that one member of staff at director level or above left the organisation to join Thames Water in the past 12 months. This was the former Chief Executive of West of Scotland Water Authority, Charles Cornish.